A SECOND fall of 12-20 millimetres&nbsp;of rain this week has given fodder crops, lucerne and improved pastures a more positive outlook and our Central&nbsp;Tablelands season could gradually recover from here. Meanwhile, there have been some suggestions made during recent days that are worth consideration. With $400 big squares of hay and $460 per tonne of feed grain, no-one will be blamed if they leave the business of farming and find employment in town. Do you know one ex-farmer who says, “gee, I’d love to be back farming”? 95 per cent&nbsp;of our population don’t lay&nbsp;awake at night, listening for every rain drop. For those who battle on, the financial rewards should be excellent. Climate forecasters who target sunspot activity predict Australia’s biggest recorded floods will occur during 2023-24. If regular rainfalls occur during September and October this year, we may all be smiling as Winx wins her fourth Cox Place in late October I’M&nbsp;often asked for my opinion about&nbsp;what assistance both state and federal governments could reasonably give to our farming communities, bearing in mind that it’s public money being discussed. There is a mountain of red tape involved in families trying to access Centrelink household support and surely this could be simplified. I don’t think needy families are being given the help that they need and mental stress is quite obvious. A state government moratorium on council land rates would be a great help to many farm families. Rate bills of $10,000 or more&nbsp;on barely viable holdings are common in an adjoining shire to Bathurst. MATT Priestley of&nbsp;MGP Pest Animal Management is based at Caloola and has been conducting wildlife management programs for more than 20 years. Matt is fully licensed and insured, and has strong references from long-term local clients. He is offering reduced contract rates to farmers who are experiencing problems with wildlife that are competing for scarce feed resources. Matt says that he offers the reduced rates as a strong support to the farming communities&nbsp;that are battling ongoing drought and asks that concerned producers discuss their problems with him on 0407 104713. OF&nbsp;real interest to a younger generation who are interested in being involved in the wool industry is a just-released book by Murray Elliot that details a range of scientific and practical information on wool production, sheep breeding and ram selection. After studying at the University of Melbourne, Murray&nbsp;became a sheep and wool officer in East Gippsland. From 1982 he moved to Hamilton and for many years he worked as a professional sheep classer for both stud and commercial clients. Murray has long realised that the skin of the sheep was instrumental in instilling quality of wool produced and he is a strong supporter of 6 monthly shearing, and says it should have happened many years ago. More information from&nbsp;murrayelliott@netspace.net.au. I’m sure that our great book store Books Plus could source you a copy. CENTRAL Tablelands Woodcraft president&nbsp;Mike Hardie tells us that the Woodies Open Day is on this Sunday, September 9 at their workshop in Dorman Place (off Gilmour Street, near&nbsp;Learmonth Park). Mike says that all are welcome to call in between 9am and noon&nbsp;to see their extensive workshop and the range of activities that members carry out. The Woodies are a friendly crew and some of their projects are brilliant. A LITTLE&nbsp;bit of federal politics goes a long way at present, but&nbsp;Mark Bouris’ comment in the&nbsp;media recently deserves to be repeated. “Finally, let’s get honest,” he said. “The Liberal Party was set up for hard working people who put their money in the line to build a business. “They drive the economy and they used to have a political party that cared about them. “How much has that changed? Look at the proposal to charge businesses for an ABN.” THE wool market continued its volatility this week, recovering some of the losses from last week. The 16 to 19 micron wools gained between&nbsp;30c-50c/kg while the broader merinos only gained around 7c-8c/kg. The fine crossbreds were unchanged but the 28 microns gained around 30c/kg. The northern market indicator finished the week on 2145c/kg, up 28c/kg but still&nbsp;18c/kg under the record of two weeks ago. When comparing this wool price hike to ones we have seen in previous years,&nbsp;the difference is in merino carding prices. The merino carding indicator at 1560c/kg is more than&nbsp;double what it has been in any other price booms, which is converting to a much higher price per bale. Next week’s sales will see 39,293 bales on offer nationwide. TWO mates were looking through&nbsp;the newspaper which read, “Man wanted for armed&nbsp;robbery in Rockley”. One mate said: “Rockley is a long way on a bike. If the job was in Eggo,&nbsp;I’d take it.” *** SOME useful definitions: A housing development:&nbsp;Where the builder removes all the trees from the site and then names the streets after them. Home:&nbsp;Where we can scratch any place we itch. Marriage: A mutual partnership if one remains mute. Snobs: Those who talk as if they begot their ancestors. *** EDUCATION gives man the ability to describe a young lady in a bikini without using his hands.

If regular rainfalls occur during September and October this year, we may all be smiling as Winx wins her fourth Cox Place in late October

Helpful hints

I’M often asked for my opinion about what assistance both state and federal governments could reasonably give to our farming communities, bearing in mind that it’s public money being discussed.

There is a mountain of red tape involved in families trying to access Centrelink household support and surely this could be simplified.

I don’t think needy families are being given the help that they need and mental stress is quite obvious.

A state government moratorium on council land rates would be a great help to many farm families.

Rate bills of $10,000 or more on barely viable holdings are common in an adjoining shire to Bathurst.

Pest management

MATT Priestley of MGP Pest Animal Management is based at Caloola and has been conducting wildlife management programs for more than 20 years.

Matt is fully licensed and insured, and has strong references from long-term local clients.

He is offering reduced contract rates to farmers who are experiencing problems with wildlife that are competing for scarce feed resources.

Matt says that he offers the reduced rates as a strong support to the farming communities that are battling ongoing drought and asks that concerned producers discuss their problems with him on 0407 104713.

Woolly yarns

OF real interest to a younger generation who are interested in being involved in the wool industry is a just-released book by Murray Elliot that details a range of scientific and practical information on wool production, sheep breeding and ram selection.

After studying at the University of Melbourne, Murray became a sheep and wool officer in East Gippsland.

From 1982 he moved to Hamilton and for many years he worked as a professional sheep classer for both stud and commercial clients.

Murray has long realised that the skin of the sheep was instrumental in instilling quality of wool produced and he is a strong supporter of 6 monthly shearing, and says it should have happened many years ago.

More information from murrayelliott@netspace.net.au. I’m sure that our great book store Books Plus could source you a copy.

Woodies’ weekend

CENTRAL Tablelands Woodcraft president Mike Hardie tells us that the Woodies Open Day is on this Sunday, September 9 at their workshop in Dorman Place (off Gilmour Street, near Learmonth Park).

Mike says that all are welcome to call in between 9am and noon to see their extensive workshop and the range of activities that members carry out.

The Woodies are a friendly crew and some of their projects are brilliant.

HORSING AROUND: Taking a pony for a swim in a farm dam can be a fun part of country life. Photo: SUPPLIED

Liberal thinking

A LITTLE bit of federal politics goes a long way at present, but Mark Bouris’ comment in the media recently deserves to be repeated.

“Finally, let’s get honest,” he said.

“The Liberal Party was set up for hard working people who put their money in the line to build a business.

“They drive the economy and they used to have a political party that cared about them.

“How much has that changed? Look at the proposal to charge businesses for an ABN.”

Diary dates

Saturday, September 8: The annual Perthville Village Fair.

Sunday, September 9: Woodies Open Day at Dorman Place.

Tuesday, September 11: 12 Mile Stud Tour of six studs and 700 rams at Wellington.

Wednesday, September 12: Winyar ram sale, 1pm at Canowindra.

Wool market

THE wool market continued its volatility this week, recovering some of the losses from last week.

The 16 to 19 micron wools gained between 30c-50c/kg while the broader merinos only gained around 7c-8c/kg.

The fine crossbreds were unchanged but the 28 microns gained around 30c/kg.

The northern market indicator finished the week on 2145c/kg, up 28c/kg but still 18c/kg under the record of two weeks ago.

When comparing this wool price hike to ones we have seen in previous years, the difference is in merino carding prices.

The merino carding indicator at 1560c/kg is more than double what it has been in any other price booms, which is converting to a much higher price per bale.

Next week’s sales will see 39,293 bales on offer nationwide.

Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark

Laugh lines

TWO mates were looking through the newspaper which read, “Man wanted for armed robbery in Rockley”. One mate said: “Rockley is a long way on a bike. If the job was in Eggo, I’d take it.”

***

SOME useful definitions:

A housing development: Where the builder removes all the trees from the site and then names the streets after them.

Home: Where we can scratch any place we itch.

Marriage: A mutual partnership if one remains mute.

Snobs: Those who talk as if they begot their ancestors.

***

EDUCATION gives man the ability to describe a young lady in a bikini without using his hands.